THE last 12 months in music were as exciting, interesting and surprising as any in recent memory.

Advancing technologies are changing the way we hear our music, simultaneously motivating artists to try more and more adventurous tactics to get their message across.

Look at Prince and his Daily Mail give-away and 21-date residency at London's O2 for example. Such a stunt wouldn't have happened two years ago.

Let's not forget the actual music, though.

The likes of Klaxons, Pigeon Detectives, Kate Nash and Jack Penate have all emerged rapidly, bringing with them more than a few winning melodies, memorable choruses and, in the case of Klaxons, a Mercury Music Prize to boot.

Despite such a joyous year, 2008 promises to be even more exciting, and already several artists are emerging as ones to watch for the coming 12 months.

Remember where you heard about them first...

:: THE COURTEENERS

It's been a while since Manchester produced a band in the swaggering, simian Oasis mould, but The Courteeners (pictured) might just be what the great North West city has been crying out for - the singer's even called Liam! Inspired by their local heroes, along with tips of the hat to The Libertines, they might just prove to be 2008's most exciting band.

She's in her early 20s, she's gorgeous and has a voice that could stop traffic. Hailing from Wales, Duffy has been singing since her early teens, but didn't get properly involved in music until much more recently. Now, she's signed to ultra-cool label Rough Trade and working with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. Duffy and her Dusty Springfield-esque songs are destined for massive things.

It's not the best name in the world, but don't let that get in the way of this great band. Reminiscent of The Feeling or Keane, Royworld's soft rock is rammed full of pop melodies with touches of Queen-like grandiosity. They're also touring in February - catch them now before they become huge.

"The best Scottish band since Jesus And Mary Chain" said Alan McGee of Glasvegas. He should know, he's the man who signed the Mary Chain to his Creation label 20 years ago, and also discovered Oasis. Four-piece Glasvegas have already earned wild applause for their first own-label single, so expect to hear a lot about them when their album drops in the summer.

Word on this band has spread like wildfire since they played their first gig in January 2007. Debut single Lucio Starts Fires was released in October, creating a wave of hysteria, while support slots with CSS, Kaiser Chiefs and full backing from NME certainly won't harm their cause.

You may have already heard of this soul / jazz singer from South London, or seen her on Later... With Jools Holland, but it's nothing compared to the exposure she's going to get in 2008. With a voice to rival Amy Winehouse's and similarly timeless songs, there will be comparisons to the troubled singer, but Adele has the quality to shrug off such laziness and become a star in her own right.